The student rally fighting for free education returned Nov. 8.
After a seven-year gap, students returned to action in the fight against post-secondary fees.
The National Day of Action campaign, spearheaded by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) Ontario, rallied students from multiple institutions in an attempt to fight education they deem to be not accessible.
Held Nov. 8, students from George Brown College (GBC) joined together at each of the three main campuses, before heading out to Grange Park. From there they marched to Queen’s Park where they voiced their concerns to the provincial government.
“One thing that we have consistently been talking about is the lack of affordability when it comes to education and the consistent increasing of fees that has really put a lot of students unable to afford education,” said Mitra Yakubi, chairperson of CFS Ontario.
Similar rallies took place in seven areas around Ontario the same day.
The last National Day of Action was held in 2016. The pause was due to the introduction of the student choice initiative in 2019, which CFS says interfered with students’ rights to organize.
During this period, the group concentrated on legal challenges against this initiative, eventually overcoming it in court.
“There was a consistent mobilization and we have been building momentum and continuing our advocacy and we’re not going to stop anytime soon, until we get free and accessible education,” said Yakubi.
Post-secondary students pay thousands of dollars in tuition fees every semester, with international students paying up to four times more than domestic students.
Mark Edwin, a Building Renovation student at GBC shared, “Fees are really hard for me and my family to pay…and the school debts are hanging over me. When I finish my program I will find work right away so I don’t have that hanging over me and my family, the stress over having to pay back something that I feel should be a necessity for all people.”
Edwin hopes the government will hear these voices, believing they eventually will not be able to ignore the demands.
Spadina–Fort York MPP Chris Glover, was also present at the rally. Glover said that he was present to show his support for students and their fight for justice.
“Students take on so much debt, some of them cannot continue their studies. Some of them are working full time jobs. while going to school. Some of them take 10 or more years to pay off their student debt after they graduate. It’s absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
At GBC, the Student Association (SA) facilitated students in joining the day of action event. The SA held poster-making sessions and organized the transportation of students from their campuses to the rally.
Members of the SA board of directors, general manager, and SA staff were present alongside the students.
“[I am] here to show solidarity to fight against the barriers that are in place for all students in Canada, to fight for free and accessible post-secondary education. I want to show my solidarity not only in spirit but also in reality,” said Zin Hein, construction and engineering technologies educational centre representative.
Hein added that taking part in this rally would not only help the collective effort but also bring something back to SAGBC.
“I feel like we can bring so much back to our local, to our Student Association, to learn from other unions about the strategies and the plant they’re using to fight back against the barriers. I hope to connect with people from other unions and share their ideas and our ideas and exchange these ideas and bring it all back and implement it in our own association.”
CFS Ontario’s research for their Education for all campaign shows that Ontario has one of the highest Post-Secondary Education fees in Canada with some of the least spending.
Yakubi said, “Budgets are about priorities. It is time for this government to invest in students, it is time for the government to make students a priority.”
The research material also shows that there was a $333 million decrease in government spending between 2020 and 2021. This decrease was mainly reflected in financial aid funding for students.
CFS Ontario’s campaign also highlights countries such as Austria, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others, which provide free access to post-secondary education for domestic students.
Other countries such as Germany, Finland, and Norway are known to provide free post-secondary education to international students as well.
It should be noted that many of the aforementioned countries have stipulations with regards to those who can attain the free education, with not everyone who applies receiving the benefit.
The way in which this might be achieved in Ontario, or anywhere within Canada, is unclear as of now, with the only solution pointing towards laying the costs on Canadian taxpayers.
CFS Ontario has plans of continued campaigning and research to do their part in helping voice student needs.
SAGBC is a part of the CFS-Ontario and students can take part in CFS campaigns through it.
Students seeking information on the follow-up to the National Day of Action and further inquiries about free education can visit www.cfs-fcee.ca or get in touch with the SA.
